Organizers in talks to bring RV event to Volusia County

Representatives of the Family Motor Coach Association are in talks with local officials to move the group's annual Southeast Area Rally to the Volusia County Fairgrounds, beginning in 2014.

BOB KOSLOWBUSINESS WRITER

Several hundred recreational vehicles could be rolling into West Volusia about this time next year. Representatives of the Family Motor Coach Association are in talks with local officials to move the group's annual Southeast Area Rally to the Volusia County Fairgrounds, beginning in 2014. David Veirs, executive director of the Volusia County Fair Association, confirmed Friday that his group is negotiating with the recreational vehicle owners association to move its annual regional event to the fairgrounds on State Road 44 just east of Interstate 4, near DeLand. "We've made a pitch and have letters of interest," from Family Motor Coach Association officials, Veirs said. "They contacted us about a year ago. We've gone back and forth and they have visited three or four times. They say it all looks good. We're just waiting now." The Southeast Area Rally has been held the past 15 years at the Hernando County Airport near Brooksville, about an hour's drive north of Tampa. This year's rally is set for Wednesday through Feb. 10. Ralph Marino, the Family Motor Coach Association's Southeast Area president and a vice president of the national organization, could not be reached for comment on the rally's potential relocation. However, he was quoted in the Tampa Bay Times as saying the Southeast Area leadership is looking at options, but nothing has been decided. Attendance for the Southeast Area Rally has declined in recent years, while the cost of putting on the event has increased, Marino told the Tampa Bay Times. The rally once had use of an aircraft hangar at the airport for some events, but that facility is no longer available to the group, Marino said. The group has had to rent tents in addition to an annual lease with the airport for space and an office. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Hernando County officials told Southeast Area leaders that they would extend their lease and explore efforts to find another hangar to use or possibly construct a new building that could be leased to the group as well as other organizations.The Volusia County Fairgrounds, operated by the fair association, has an area for 99 recreational vehicles with electric, water and sewer hookups as well as several permanent buildings it rents out for events and activities. The economic benefits of hosting the Southeast Area Rally includes drawing more than 1,000 visitors to the area for five days who likely would buy gasoline, groceries and other goods from local businesses, eat at local restaurants and take day trips to area tourist sites. The Southeast Area is one of the largest and most active of the 10 regional chapters for the Cincinnati-based Family Motor Coach Association, association spokeswoman Pamela Kay said. The Southeast Area chapter covers Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. "The rallies are organized and operated by the areas. People come in their motor homes and there are many exhibits that include new motor homes and RV products," Kay said. "There's even some entertainment as well as social activities like coffee hours and ice cream socials."